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The death of Apple founder Steve Jobs is being felt strongly in Asia, where the products he pioneered are largely made and immensely popular.

Listen: Reaction to Steve Jobs' death

Millions of tributes to Jobs appeared Thursday on microblog sites in China, where members of the world's largest on-line community routinely line up for days to purchase each new Apple product. Copyright pirates have not only cloned iPhones and iPads but even opened counterfeit Apple stores.

In Beijing, university student Li Zilong, 20, worried that without Jobs, Apple may not be able to continue turning out products like the newly released iPhone 4S.

"It's such a tragedy. I hope the successors will take good care of the Apple company, if they don't take care of the company, Apple could collapse all of a sudden. Jobs was a legendary figure; every company needs a spiritual leader, without Jobs I don't know if Apple can give us more products like the classic product, iPhone4," Li said.

Apple produces many of its products at the sprawling Foxconn factory complex in China's southern Guangdong province.

Jobs' loss was also being felt at an Apple store in Seoul, South Korea, where employee Lee Joo-young, 37, described his feelings. "I don't personally know him, but I feel like our hero is gone now. I feel heartbroken," he said.

In Hong Kong, business executive Francis Lun was more pragmatic, saying he feels personally saddened bit not too worried about the impact on the stock market.

"And he is the only one corporate person or computer executive who can command a fan base stretching across the world among all strata of society. And when an icon like this passed away and we all feel terrible sad. And as far as stock market concerned, I think you will find people who will shot Apple shares, but other than that, I really don't think there is really that much effect on the stock market and business world," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard added her own words of tribute, saying the technologies that Jobs pioneered have shaped the economy of the future.

"Look, I've been saddened to hear that news. I mean, here we are at a Future Jobs Forum, and the jobs of the future are going to be shaped by innovation, and we hear the news of the loss of an incredible global innovator. I mean, it's not too much to say he literally changed our world," Gillard noted.

At this year's annual South by Southwest film and music festival in Austin, Texas, some musicians from Mali were on hand to promote a film about how their lives were upturned by jihadists who destroyed ancient treasures in the city of Timbuktu and prohibited anyone from playing music under threat of death. As VOA’s Greg Flakus reports from Austin, some are afraid to return to their hometowns even though the jihadists are no longer in control there.

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At this year's annual South by Southwest film and music festival in Austin, Texas, some musicians from Mali were on hand to promote a film about how their lives were upturned by jihadists who destroyed ancient treasures in the city of Timbuktu and prohibited anyone from playing music under threat of death. As VOA’s Greg Flakus reports from Austin, some are afraid to return to their hometowns even though the jihadists are no longer in control there.

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American warplanes joined Iraq's battle against the so-called 'Islamic State' in northern Iraq late Wednesday, as Iraqi ground troops launched a massive assault on Tikrit. Analysts say the offensive could take the coalition a step further towards Mosul, the largest city held by Islamic State forces. Others say it could also deepen already-dangerous sectarian tensions in the region. VOA's Heather Murdock has more from Cairo.

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Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry in the Philippines. Close to five million foreign visitors traveled there last year, perhaps lured by the country’s tropical beaches. But Jason Strother reports from Manila that the country hopes to entice more travelers to stay indoors and spend money inside new casinos.

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The continued fighting in eastern Ukraine and the shelling of civilian neighborhoods seem to be pushing more men to join the separatist fighters. Many of the new recruits are residents of Ukraine made bitter by new grievances, as well as old. VOA's Patrick Wells reports.

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Islamic State fighter, a prisoner of Kurdish YPG forces, asked his family asking for forgiveness: "I destroyed myself and I destroyed them along with me." The Syrian youth was one of two detainees who spoke to VOA’s Kurdish Service about the path they chose; their names have been changed and identifying details obscured. VOA's Zana Omer reports.

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More is being discovered about the co-pilot in the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 in the French Alps. Investigators say he was hiding a medical condition, raising questions about the mental qualifications of pilots. VOA's Carolyn Presutti reports.

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In cities with heavily congested traffic, people can get around much faster on a motorcycle than in a car. But a rider who is not sure of his route may have to stop to look at the map or consult a GPS. A Russian start-up company is working to make navigation easier for motorcyclists. Designers at Moscow-based LiveMap are developing a smart helmet with a built-in navigation system, head-mounted display and voice recognition. Zlatica Hoke has more.

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U.S. federal law enforcement agents arrested two suburban Chicago men accused of trying to join ISIS overseas, while also plotting attacks in the United States. As VOA’s Kane Farabaugh reports from the Midwest state of Illinois, one of those arrested is a soldier of the Illinois National Guard.

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Traditional push-rim wheelchairs create a lot of stress for arm, shoulder and neck muscles and joints. A redesigned chair, based on readily available bicycle technology, radically increases mobility while reducing the physical effort. VOA’s George Putic reports.

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Beatrice Yardolo was to make history as Liberia’s last Ebola patient. Liberians recently started counting down 42 days, the period that has to go by without a single new infection until the World Health Organization can declare a country Ebola-free. That countdown stopped on March 20 when there was another new case of Ebola, making Yardolo’s story a reminder that Ebola is far from over. Benno Muchler reports from Monrovia.

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Indigenous communities in Cambodia's Ratanakiri province say the government’s economic land concession policy is taking away their land and traditional way of life, making many fear that their identity will soon be lost. Local authorities, though, have denied this is the case. VOA's Say Mony went to investigate and filed this report, narrated by Colin Lovett.

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One of the films that drew big crowds last week at the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, tells the story of the last human being to stand on the moon, U.S. astronaut Eugene Cernan. It has been 42 years since Cernan returned from the moon and he laments that no one else has gone there since. VOA’s Greg Flakus reports.